But when an unrighteous man departed from her in his anger: Presumably Cain had Wisdom, but became so angry that he left her and went out to kill his brother. It is hard to suggest an English verb that is appropriate here; neither departed from nor “abandoned” (Good News Translation) sounds natural. “Rejected” is close. The idea of “turn one’s back on” probably fits this context more naturally; for example, “But there was an evil [or, unrighteous] man who turned his back on [or, refused to follow] Wisdom.” Good News Translation has moved in his anger to the end of the verse by combining it with in rage and translating “in a fit of anger,” which means “he became so angry that.” This works well.

He perished because in rage he slew his brother: Good News Translation (so also New English Bible) renders perished as “destroyed himself,” which is better in the context. This must not be mistaken for suicide, however. It means that by killing his brother Cain brought about his own ruin. He did not, of course, die immediately. His punishment is reported in Gen 4.9-16.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• There was an evil man who turned his back on Wisdom. He became terribly angry and killed his brother. Because of this he brought about his own ruin [or, destruction].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Wisdom of Solomon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2004. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.